The Federation of Jharkhand Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FJCCI) on Friday pledged its full support to those films and film-makers who wanted to come and shoot in Jharkhand. While felicitating veteran film maker Mahesh Bhatt at Chamber office in the city, FJCCI president Pawan Sharma said that the arrival of a person like Mahesh Bhatt here and making a film on the soil of this beautiful state itself was a subject of great honour and pride for Jharkhand.
Bhatt was overwhelmed with the honour and support, which his crew members shooting in Dumka were receiving from administration and locals. “The energy, stamina and emotions which these people have reflected have simply stunned me. These extra labourious people are so simple at the same time,” he said. He also praised his daughter Alia Bhatt for her portrayal of a Jharkhandi girl in her latest movie Udta Punjab and has received much accolades from critics and movie-goers.
When asked as to why Jharkhand remained almost ‘untouchable’ and unexplored by Bollywood so far and what would turn things the other way round, Bhatt said, “People want to travel on tried and tested path. Trying to find something new is still something new in itself. Jharkhand remained unexplored due to some apprehensions related to people, the administration and environment as a whole. And then, now the state has come up with new Film Policy, which would certainly create a win-win situation for film makers and the State both.”
Praising the support from the Government, Bhatt said that it was only the pro-activeness of Government which forced us to change the location from Maharashtra to Jharkhand. He said, “Our crew members are going to be the brand ambassadors of Jharkhand in Bollywood, which has kept itself largely away, if not totally cut off, from this beautiful and amazing state in east India due to reasons well known to itself. Whereas I am concerned, whenever a story will support, I will choose Jharkhand a preferred location for shoot.”
Sharma said that the more involvement of Bollywood in state meant more and more opportunities for business to grow and local talents to take pole position in run. He said that talent was already there in abundant, what lacked so far was right opportunity. He said that Chamber would keep on trying its best to bring more Bollywood film makers in the state.
Bhatt is shooting his upcoming movie ‘BegumJaan’ in Dumka from last week. The entire star cast of Naseeruddin Sah-Vidya Balan Kapoor starrer movie will stay in Dumka for another 40-45 days to complete the shooting of the film in Jharkhand.
Bhatt was also felicitated by FJCCI Secretary General Vinay Agrawal and Former President RK Sarawagi, Jharkhand Hotel Association president Paramjit Singh, Jharkhand Film Veteran Dr. Yugal Kishore Mishra and Producer Rishi Mishra and other members of the FJCCI.